On wheels of success

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On wheels of success

By Xiao Chen

DOHA: The only thing Wong Kam-po wants to do is ride his bike. He stopped studying when he was 16, because he said it made him sleepy. However the 33-year-old from Hong Kong insists he will never get tired of pushing the pedals.

"The only time I start reading a book is when I can not sleep, because then I will sleep in 10 minutes," said the veteran after winning a surprising title of men's road race at his fourth Asian Games on Sunday. "I love cycling. It is just like my life."

Sunday's win is his second Asian Games trophy but beyond his expectation.

"I did not think of the result when I was competing. I just tried to do my best," said Wong. "There are lots of good cyclists in Doha. I tried to keep in the leading group. At last several kilometers, there are only three in the front. I was happy because I thought at least I could finish the third place."

Wong has won everything a cyclist can win on a bike in Asia.

In 1998 in Bangkok, Wong took the title, followed by a bronze at the Busan Games in 2002. Although he has spent more time on the track recently, and despite a growing number of youngsters coming through the ranks, Wong is still a force to be reckoned with in Asia's road races.

He also won Tour the Okinawa three times and in 1997 and 2001 he became China National Champion. But Wong said he would not stop cycling because he always felt comfortable whenever he was on a bike.

"I just love cycling and it is giving me pleasure every day," he said. "It takes the same time to get well-known as not-known.

"Now it is OK, everybody is very nice to me. I just really like cycling. In the beginning I mostly enjoyed the touch of freedom I always feel while riding my bike.

"Later I started to enjoy winning and travelling too. The travelling makes me think there is more life than business, the way most people think in Hong Kong."

The hardest part of cycling was to overcome problem of motivation, he said.

"The human is normally very lazy, so I have to keep busy with motivating myself," he said. "I never cease to do that 'cause I am doing what I love to do."

Wong also shrugged off speculations about his retirement.

"People are saying I should retire. Of course I have no pressure and I will not quit right now."

Wong has his eyes on 2008 Beijing Olympics. "I will compete in 2008. Maybe after 2008, I will sit down and think if I have to go on."

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